Redirection Training

Woman training dog that is outside.

Redirection Training: Teaching Alternative Behaviors Instead of Barking

Redirection training is a simple but highly effective way to stop barking by giving your dog a different behavior to perform—one that is physically or mentally incompatible with making noise. Instead of trying to suppress barking, redirection teaches your dog:

“Do this instead.”

Sit.
Go to mat.
Bring a toy.
Touch your hand.
Look at me.
Lie down.

When your dog reliably performs an alternative behavior, barking naturally fades because the dog cannot bark and complete the redirect behavior at the same time. It replaces chaos with structure and helps dogs understand what you want from them in real-world moments.

Redirection is especially powerful for excitable, social, or habit-based barkers.

What Is Redirection Training?

Redirection training means:

  1. Teaching your dog a simple, clear behavior ahead of time
  2. Practicing it until the dog can perform it easily
  3. Using that behavior during mild barking triggers
  4. Rewarding the new behavior consistently

Instead of focusing on “don’t bark,” this method focuses on “here’s something better you can do.”

It shifts your dog’s energy and attention into a more appropriate, rewarded behavior.

Why Redirection Works to Reduce Barking

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons:

  • Excitement
  • Attention-seeking
  • Territorial instinct
  • Hyperarousal
  • Frustration
  • Unexpected noises
  • Greeting guests
  • Triggered routines (doorbell, keys, knock)

Redirection works because it:

✔ Interrupts the barking loop

It gives your dog a new “track” to follow.

✔ Creates a clear, rewarded behavior

Rewarding alternative actions builds strong habits.

✔ Lowers arousal

Sitting, touching, or going to a mat reduces heart rate and reactivity.

✔ Provides clarity

Most barking happens because the dog doesn’t know what else to do.

✔ Allows the dog to succeed quickly

Dogs love winning. Redirection gives them little wins all day.

For many dogs, this method works faster than cue-based training alone.

Group of friends with their dog.

How to Use Redirection Training Step by Step

To use this method effectively, you must teach the alternative behavior before trying to use it during barking.

Step 1: Choose an Incompatible Behavior

Examples:

  • Sit — dog must be still, not barking
  • Down — dog cannot bark while lying calmly
  • Go to Mat / Place — teaches settling in one spot
  • Hand Target / “Touch” — interrupts barking with gentle contact
  • Fetch a Toy — refocuses energy immediately
  • Look at Me — shifts attention back to you

Pick one or two behaviors to start.
Make sure they’re easy for your dog.

Step 2: Teach the Redirect Behavior When Your Dog Is Calm

Practice in a quiet room, with no triggers.

Example for “Go to Mat”:

  1. Lure dog onto mat
  2. Mark (“Yes!”)
  3. Reward
  4. Step off mat → repeat
  5. Add cue only after your dog understands the pattern
  6. Build duration slowly

Repeat several short sessions per day.

Step 3: Practice in Easy, Controlled Situations

Before using the redirect in the real world, practice:

  • At slightly higher excitement levels
  • With small distractions
  • With mild triggers (not full-blown ones)

This builds your dog’s confidence in offering the behavior quickly.

Step 4: Use Redirection During Mild Barking, Not Big Outbursts

This is key.

Redirection works BEST:

  • Before barking starts
  • When barking is just beginning
  • When your dog is under threshold
  • When the trigger is manageable

If your dog is already panicking, choose DS/CC or Engage–Disengage instead.

Step 5: Mark & Reward the Redirect Immediately

Timing makes or breaks this method.

As soon as your dog:

  • Touches your hand
  • Goes to mat
  • Sits
  • Lies down
  • Brings a toy
  • Looks at you

Mark → reward.

This teaches the dog that the alternative behavior is more rewarding than barking.

Step 6: Gradually Increase Difficulty

Once your dog can redirect reliably in easy moments, practice:

  • Closer to the door
  • Near windows
  • Around guests
  • With movement outside
  • With mild noises (knocking, footsteps, garage door sounds)

Over time, redirecting becomes automatic.

What Redirection Looks Like in Real Life

Example: Dog Barks at Guests

  1. Door knock → dog perks up
  2. You say “Go to mat”
  3. Dog goes to mat
  4. Mark → treat
  5. Repeat until the dog defaults to the mat automatically

Eventually, the dog hears the knock and runs to the mat.

Example: Dog Barks for Attention

  1. Dog begins to whine or bark
  2. Wait for a split second of quiet
  3. Cue “Sit” or “Touch”
  4. Dog performs behavior
  5. Reward
  6. Dog learns: quiet behavior gets attention

A powerful pattern breaker for attention-seeking barking.

Example: Dog Barks at Squirrels or Movement Outside

  1. Dog stares at window
  2. You cue “Touch” with your hand
  3. Dog touches nose to hand
  4. Mark → treat
  5. Repeat several times
  6. Dog begins to disengage from window automatically

This reduces reactivity and builds calm focus.

Quick Tips for Faster Success

  • Use high-value treats during early practice
  • Choose behaviors your dog already knows
  • Keep redirect sessions fun and upbeat
  • Reward generously at first
  • Be consistent with cues and timing
  • Practice in several rooms and environments
  • Use soft, calm body language

Common Redirection Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Expecting redirection to work during high arousal

Use DS/CC or Engage–Disengage for big triggers.

❌ Redirecting too late

Catch the dog right before they escalate.

❌ Cues aren’t well-practiced

If the dog doesn’t know “mat,” they can’t do it mid-trigger.

❌ Using it as a replacement for emotional training

Redirecting doesn’t solve fear — it manages it.

❌ Inconsistent reinforcement

Dogs need predictable rewards when learning new habits.

When Redirection Works Best

Redirection is ideal for:

  • Excitable barking
  • Greeting barking
  • Attention-seeking barking
  • Barking when the dog wants something
  • Boredom barking
  • Dogs who bark during routines
  • Dogs who enjoy having a “job”
  • Puppies and adolescents

It can also help with mild reactivity, but pair it with DS/CC for deeper emotional work.

A Simple Redirection Training Routine

Morning:

Practice “sit” or “touch” in calm setting.

Afternoon:

Practice “go to mat” with mild excitement triggers.

Evening:

Use redirect during low-level barking moments.

Over a few weeks, the dog begins offering these quiet, calm behaviors before barking even starts.

TL;DR: Redirection Training

  • Teach an alternative behavior your dog can perform instead of barking.
  • Practice that behavior in calm settings before using it with triggers.
  • Use redirection during low-level barking or just before barking begins.
  • Reward instantly to reinforce the new habit.
  • Redirection works best for excitement, attention-seeking, and routine-based barking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is redirection the same as distraction?
No. Distraction pulls the dog’s attention away temporarily. Redirection teaches a new, intentional behavior the dog can perform reliably.

When should I NOT use redirection?
Avoid it during high-arousal or fear-based barking. Use Desensitization & Counterconditioning or Engage–Disengage in those cases.

How long before I see results?
Many dogs improve within a few days of consistent practice. Habit change takes 2–3 weeks.

Do I always need treats?
Treats help early learning. Once the habit is strong, you can fade food rewards gradually.

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